Browns draft: 6 players to watch at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine begins Feb. 28, and the Cleveland Browns should keep an eye on these six prospects

Just because they don't have a pick in Round 1, don't think the Cleveland Browns can't improve their roster in 2023. Just last year, they struck gold with Martin Emerson, who they actually landed in Round 3 after trading out of the second round.

In 2023, it doesn't seem as likely they'll be moving down — at least not as far. This feels like a make-or-break season for many in the organization, so look for them to try and find value in every round — as well as a couple of starters on day two.

Now is the time to start paying attention to who they're targeting as the NFL Scouting Combine is kicking off on Tuesday. With that being the case, here are six players to keep an eye on as potential fits in Cleveland.

6 players for the Browns to watch at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

6. Payne Durham, TE, Purdue

David Njoku isn't going anywhere after signing a huge extension ahead of the 2022 campaign. Harrison Bryant, on the other hand, doesn't feel as safe.

A Round 4 pick in 2020, Bryant was solid in his first two seasons as the third tight end which gave the front office the confidence they needed to move on from Austin Hooper. Bryant wasn't terrible but did have his least efficient season to date. He's now entering the final year of his rookie deal which means the Browns could be looking for his eventual replacement.

Payne Durham could be exactly that. The 6-foot-5, 258-pounder from Purdue looks the part of an NFL tight end. He's not likely to impress too much with his 40-yard dash, or any agility testing at the Combine, but his route running is likely to stand out.

Durham is a smart player who attacks zone coverage with ease and catches everything that's in range of his long arms. He should be a late-day-two, or even early-day-three selection, making him an ideal target in Cleveland.

5. Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State

Another potential position of need for the Browns is at running back. They're not in line for a starter since Nick Chubb is still going strong. In fact, he just had the best season of his five-year career with 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns.

They shouldn't even need a RB2, despite Kareem Hunt's eventual exit. Hunt was great in this role but it's clear his future is outside of Cleveland. The good news is that they have Jerome Ford, a fifth-round pick from a year ago.

Ford showed off his speed and evasiveness while running kicks back in 2022 but was hardly used in the backfield. For that reason, the Browns would be smart to add some insurance.

One option is to bring back D'Ernest Johnson, who proved he can get it done when he twice topped 100 yards in a game during 2021. Another would be to land someone in the draft.

If this is the route they choose, Deuce Vaughn is a name to watch. At just 5-foot-6 and 172 pounds, Vaughn won't be an early pick. Teams won't be looking at him as an every-down back which will hurt his stock. For the Browns, this is perfectly fine.

They know they have guys who can carry it 20-times per game. What they don't have is someone like Vaughn who can take it to the house on any given play.

During his three seasons with K-State, Vaughn racked up 3,604 yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground and 1,280 yards and nine scored through the air. He's lightning in a bottle and should be fun to watch this week in Indy.

4. JL Skinner, S, Boise State

This past season, the Browns had a lot of issues on the back end of their defense. Both John Johnson III and Grant Delpit have had their share of criticism for the communication issues and they do both need to improve in 2023. However, not all of the issues were on them.

Johnson and Delpit are both better playing closer to the line of scrimmage, and that meant one of them was constantly out of position playing a deep safety role. Johnson is the better of the two in this area but it still doesn't put him in the best position to succeed.

With Jim Schwartz now in charge of the defense, there are hopes that each player can improve. While that could be the case, the Browns would also be wise to add someone capable of playing the centerfield role. One prospect in the upcoming draft who could do this for them is JL Skinner of Boise State.

Skinner played free safety earlier in his career with the Broncos but also moved to strong safety at times where his 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame was put to good use.

Even with that being the case, he has the tools to play in deep coverage — and is better in zone coverage than in man. This past season, he broke up six passes and had four interceptions, showing his ability to get after the ball.

If that's not enough, he was the primary communicator in Boise State's defense, which is another area Cleveland can use some help.

Skinner is another player to watch and could be a welcome addition to Cleveland's secondary.

3. Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin

One of the primary concerns on defense for Cleveland in 2022 was their lack of run-stuffers. Departing defensive cooridinator Joe Woods didn't use typical nose tackles and had the philosophy of getting after the run on the way to the quarterback.

In a pass-happy NFL, this isn't the worst strategy, but you still need someone to stop the run when teams decide they're going to use that to dictate the pace of the game. The hope heading into this season is that new defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, will emphasize the dun game a bit more.

With that in mind, Keeanu Benton would be a perfect addition to the line and would help Schwartz immensely in that goal. What's even better, is that Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network says Benton is capable of not only playing the 1-tech but can be effective as a 3-tech as well.

"From 1-tech to 3-tech, Benton can easily one-gap interior blockers. He gains control early, uses his leg drive to displace, and can slab blockers with one arm while establishing a half-man relationship to clog gaps. He establishes anchors quickly, absorbs initial contact with his lower body strength, and can deconstruct with force. Benton is hard to displace, but when he does suffer displacement, he shows off great recovery strength. He’s able to plant his base, lock out, and stall movement midway through reps."

Cummings, Pro Football Network

This is important since it means Benton can play on all three downs, which is different than most 1-techs. That's why many general managers pass on nose tackles, since they don't believe there's enough value there.

Benton offers that value and the 6-foot-4, 315-pounder from Wisconsin should be a lot of fun to watch this week as he shows off in Indy.

2. Mike Morris, EDGE, Michigan

Since taking the job as general manager in Cleveland, Andrew Berry has shown he likes ascending players. He also looks for youth in the draft since it means the player is still growing rather than already peaking.

That describes Michigan defensive end Mike Morris perfectly.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 278 pounds, Morris has the ideal size to play on the edge across from Myles Garrett. He's also just 21 years of age and will turn 22 right around draft time. But what's most intriguing is the growth he displayed from 2021 to 2022.

Morris went from a rotational player to a star for Michigan and recorded 23 tackles, 11 for a loss, and 7.5 sacks during his final season. He also did this while moving from the defensive line to linebacker, displaying the athleticism to make plays from a stand-up position.

Cleveland has one of the best defensive ends in the entire NFL right now in Garrett but with Jadeveon Clowney on the way out — and Chase Winovich also a free agent — they need to add another potential starter. Their top option right now is Alex Wright and while he has the talent, he's still very raw.

Adding someone in free agency is also an option but the Browns don't have the resources to devote $10 million-plus to a long-time starter. Instead, they could look for a bridge player who can work alongside Wright and another youngster. Should they go this route, Morris would be an ideal fit.

1. Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati

There's no denying the Cleveland Browns have two very talented wide receivers in Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones. They also believe David Bell could take a major step forward in 2023 now that he has a full season under his belt.

Having said that, there's no guarantee Bell will develop into the player they hope he can become and DPJ is entering the final season of his contract. Throw in the lack of development from Anthony Schwartz and the myriad of injuries they've dealt with lately, and it's a safe bet they'll look for more depth in the draft.

One player to keep an eye on is Tyler Scott from Cincinnati, who already stated his desire to play in Cleveland. While it's nice to see a player show a desire to come on board, Scott is also a great fit in this offense. As Joe Marino of The Draft Network says, he's able to win at all levels and is a playmaker after the catch.

"Scott has the makings of an outstanding No. 2 receiver in the NFL where his ability to win at all levels of the field, create after the catch, and impact the spacing of the offense with his vertical ability are major assets for his NFL offense. "

Marino, The Draft Network

At the Scouting Combine, Scott is bound to turn heads with his speed. Reports say he already hit an unofficial 4.29 in the 40-yard dash and that type of speed always makes headlines during these workouts. It would also be exactly what Cleveland needs to have on their roster to not only open things up, but to also feel comfortable moving on from Schwartz.